About
Bill McBrayer spent four decades in North Carolina’s furniture manufacturing industry, retiring in 2024 after 30 years in operations and human resources management with Lexington Home Brands in Hickory. His career has been built around the intersection of advanced manufacturing, skilled workforce development, and rural economic resilience.
A native of Forest City, McBrayer holds degrees from Isothermal Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne University. As a founding partner, he was instrumental in creating the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy at Catawba Valley Community College, an industry-driven training program that prepares students for the technical demands of modern furniture manufacturing and serves as a statewide model for workforce development. Since retiring, he has taught supervisory and leadership skills as an instructor with Western Carolina Industries’ Supervisor Development Institute.
McBrayer chairs the Hickory Regional Planning Commission and the City of Hickory Board of Adjustment, and has served on numerous boards and commissions across Catawba County. In 2022, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Committee Assignments
- Chair of Personnel Committee
- Vice-Chair of Programs and Student Success Committee
- Accountability and Audit Committee